Keynote & Seminar Speaker

Mark Madavan has served as a Church Minister for over thirty years and is currently Senior Minister at Fishponds Baptist Church, Bristol. Alongside his passion for Bible teaching, Mark trains and mentors leaders and also supports those living with challenges, including sight loss, a journey he knows firsthand, as he is registered blind himself. He is co-author, with his wife Cathy, of "Up and Alive," and is a regular speaker at Spring Harvest.

Keynote & Seminar Speaker

Helen Paynter is a Baptist minister who serves as Tutor in Old Testament at the Bristol Baptist College. She is the founding director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. The CSBV is a study centre which works in the twin areas of understanding biblical violence, and studying how the Bible is weaponised in a violent world. Since 2022, Helen has been leading a project looking at the use of Scripture and theological themes by right-wing movements. She is the editor, with Maria Power, of The Church, the Far Right, and the Claim to Christianity; and the editor of a practical book: Faithful Presence in a Fractured World: A Church Toolkit for Resisting the Far Right.

Keynote & Seminar Speaker

Charlie MacDonald has lived and served in the East End for twenty years. She is the Children and Youth Lead for Jubilee+ and oversees schools work for London City Mission. Charlie has a particular heart for reaching urban, unchurched kids and is the founder of Equipping Every Kid, which provides churches and charities with content and training that is relevant and applicable. Charlie is the writer of the Overflow kids' curriculum and Look Again youth curriculum  - Jubilee+ resources which unpack God's heart for the vulnerable. She is married to Frazer and raising four children in inner-city London.

Seminar Speaker

Jane has worked in numerous schools with different roles over years, including working as: a teacher; a forest school leader; a ‘school and community worker’ (employed by the local church); a church volunteer, and a volunteer for Pets As Therapy with her dog, Billy. Jane is passionate about churches developing relationships with their local schools, in ways that are supportive and appropriate for the context. She works part time for the charity, Bristol Schools Connection, which has been helping to connect churches and schools in the Bristol area since 2015. Jane also works part time for the Diocese of Bristol as their Under-18s Chaplaincy Adviser – she is a big fan of chaplaincy. Jane loves being outdoors and exploring wild places (especially the Scottish Islands) with her husband Andy and Billy.

Keynote & Seminar Speaker

Dr Phil Thomas has been in Bristol for 30 years, in that time he has been a Student Pastor, an Assistant Pastor and is now the Theological Training Coordinator at Müllers. He firmly believes that one of the ways the local church can be strengthened is through Scriptural and Theological study, by which we can put down deep roots and live fruitful lives. Phil is the author of “In a vision of the night: Job, Cormac McCarthy and the Challenge of Chaos”, and when not doing theology you’ll find him either doing some gardening or on his bike!

Keynote & Seminar Speaker

Joel has been involved in youth ministry for 20 years, 14 of which as a full-time youth worker, and is passionate to see children and young people experience hope and wholeness in Jesus. He is now Charity Leader at Müllers as well as Chair of trustees at South West Youth Ministries. He and his family are part of the congregation at Holy Trinity Stapleton, having been part of a church grafting team from St Michaels Stoke Gifford. He supports Wolves, loves a KFC, and has the tendency to be a productivity nerd!

Seminar Speaker

With 20 years’ experience in youth work, Dylan has worked alongside young people in churches, schools, community projects, supported housing and detached youth work. His particular passion is for working with young people who sit beyond traditional youth provision and are often described as ‘challenging’. Alongside his youth work, he has retrained as a Play Therapist to support the children and young people who are going through difficult times. Dylan works for Frontier Youth Trust, supporting practitioners to develop more relational, inclusive and pioneering approaches to working with young people.  

Seminar Speaker

Isobel has worked with young children and families in various contexts for many years. Working as a teacher, initially in primary schools, most of her career Isobel was training adults to work with young children in colleges and universities. Inspired by living in Nigeria and Argentina, she has carried out research into language, culture and identity and how it shapes our place in society. Alongside her work, Isobel has been involved with children in different churches and contexts, encouraging children to discover more about God and his world. Her particular interest is developing positive listening skills which enable children to know that their voices are heard, respected and valued. Isobel has 4 adult children and 7 grandchildren and enjoys having fun with them.

Seminar Speaker

Carrie taught for many years in Early Years education and then left to enjoy being with her two children when they were young. Later after returning to Nursery teaching, she became a college Lecturer, trained as a nursery Ofsted Inspector, became an Advisory Teacher for Bristol and then a University Senior Lecturer. During a period of prolonged convalescence for Carrie, following numerous back surgeries, Carrie and Isobel collaborated to write the book: ‘Children in the Way?’ which pooled their teaching and thoughts for church children. They drew on current research, aiming to present it in an easy to read way and kept it very practical for those working in church settings. Later Carrie trained as a Play Therapist working with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. And then trained as a Creative Attachment Therapist working with adoptive and foster families and their children.

She currently seizes opportunities for teaching and motivating those who work with young children in church and looks after grandchildren with her husband, Neil. And plays lots of tennis.

Seminar Speaker

Simon worked as a Primary school teacher for many years, in schools in Swindon, London, Bristol and abroad, and has worked with children and youth in the different churches he has attended over the years. He currently works part time as the Youth, Children and Families Minister at St Peter’s Church, Henleaze, and part time with Bristol Schools Connection. Simon is passionate about supporting his local church, schools and community, has a heart for working with children and youth and wants to support young people grow as disciples of Jesus, as they explore their faith, wrestle with big ideas, develop a prayerful lifestyle and start to live out their faith in everyday life.

Young Leaders Stream Host

Rachel works for South West Youth Ministries (SWYM), where she runs TAG Young Leaders and works to raise up and equip the next generation of young leaders across the South West. She is passionate about creating spaces where young people can develop confidence, discover their gifts and be equipped to lead and influence others. Previously, Rachel worked as Youth Engagement Officer for the Diocese of Bristol, supporting churches and youth workers to create meaningful opportunities for young people to shape the life of the church. Alongside her youth ministry experience, Rachel has worked closely with young people with SEMH and complex needs and is passionate about ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive and contribute.’

Young Leaders Stream Host

Kath has worked in a variety of settings with young people including church-based youth clubs and discipleships groups, community work by developing and implementing an early intervention provision for young people, as well as working in schools providing pastoral support for students.

Kath now serves as Bristol Area Coordinator for South West Youth Ministries supporting SWYM trainees and developing connections with local churches, working in partnership with Bristol Diocese as a CYPF advocate.

Kath is married to Rob, has two kids and loves the outdoors, live music, and watching the Traitors.